Differential transcriptional profile through cell cycle progression in Arabidopsis cultures under simulated microgravity

Abstract

Plant cell proliferation is affected by microgravity during spaceflight, but involved molecular mechanisms, key for space agronomy goals, remain unclear. To investigate transcriptomic changes in cell cycle phases caused by simulated microgravity, an Arabidopsis immobilized synchronous suspension culture was incubated in a Random Positioning Machine. After simulation, a transcriptomic analysis was performed with two subpopulations of cells (G2/M and G1 phases enriched) and an asynchronous culture sample. Differential expression was found at cell proliferation, energy/redox and stress responses, plus unknown biological processes gene ontology groups. Overall expression inhibition was a common response to simulated microgravity, but differences peak at the G2/M phase and stress response components change dramatically from G2/M to the G1 subpopulation suggesting a differential adaptation response to simulated microgravity through the cell cycle. Cell cycle adaptation using both known stress mechanisms and unknown function genes may cope with reduced gravity as an evolutionary novel environment.

Comprehensive Analysis of Cell Cycle-Related Genes in Patients With Prostate Cancer

“…The cell cycle is an essentially biological process ( 18 , 19 ). Under normal conditions, cells proliferate only in response to mitotic signals, which are more significant for normal organisms, while the proliferation of cancer cells is out of control ( 7 ).…”

Space omics research in Europe: Contributions, geographical distribution and ESA member state funding schemes

“…To complement the experiments on plant seedlings, further research has taken advantage of cell culture in ground-based space simulation conditions to address fundamental mechanistic and functional questions. Several transcriptomic publications from a research group in Madrid ( Herranz et al., 2013a ; Kamal et al., 2019a , 2019b ; Manzano et al., 2012 ) have shown that basic parameters of cell proliferation and cell division control are dysregulated under altered gravity conditions. Fundamental mechanisms, such as chromatin remodeling, are affected under these conditions, and should be tested in spaceflight experiments (i.e., true microgravity).…”

Understanding Reduced Gravity Effects on Early Plant Development Before Attempting Life-Support Farming in the Moon and Mars

“…Physiological and cellular alterations are related to changes in gene expression, which have been identified by transcriptomic studies from space and ground experiments (Paul et al, 2012;Kwon et al, 2015;Johnson et al, 2017;Paul et al, 2017;Choi et al, 2019;Herranz et al, 2019;Kamal et al, 2019;Vandenbrink et al, 2019;Kruse et al, 2020;Villacampa et al, 2021a). In some cases, complementary proteomic studies were also performed (Kruse et al, 2020).…”